SAN BERNARDINO – The name “Washington Generals,” to the average sports fan, conjures up a certain image.

It is of that hapless patsy of the Harlem Globetrotters – the guys who could be depended upon to take the pies in the face and have balls bounced off their heads while losing by 30 points.

Monday the Washington Generals visited Cajon High School, but they were the Washington Lady Generals, a girls high school basketball team.

Unaware they were supposed to be mere cannon fodder on Cajon’s journey to the CIF-State finals in Sacramento, Washington gave Cajon quite a game. But ultimately the Cowgirls do what they do, out-lasted the opposition for a 60-46 victory in the opening round of the state Division I girls basketball playoffs.

“They’re pretty good,” Lady Generals coach Ricky Blackmon said. “(Layshia) Clarendon is as good as advertised and big girl, (Darshae) Burnside, were the difference. Burnside really holds down the middle. She intimidated us.”

It took a long time for Cajon (30-3) to shake the quick, pesky Lady Generals. The Cowgirls were tied 14-14 after one quarter, led 26-20 at halftime and 40-33 after three quarters.

“We knew they would be a good team,” said Cajon guard Kori Walker, who scored seven points. “We knew they’d be fast and hustle, but we thought if we got up on them, that they’d get out of control, and that’s what happened.”

Washington (26-7) didn’t exactly seem out of control, but Cajon was clearly the better team. That was especially evident in the pivotal fourth quarter as Clarendon scored seven points and guard Bjonne Reaves added five as the Cowgirls out-scored the Lady Generals 20-13 to put the game away.

Cajon will now play host to Los Angeles Narbonne tonight in the second round. Washington lost to Narbonne in the L.A. City Section title game.

It’s all uncharted territory for the Cowgirls, who are making their first CIF-State playoff appearance.

“We want to go get another ring,” said Walker, whose team won the CIF-SS title on Saturday at the Walter Pyramid with a victory against Ayala.

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